Npower League Two
Bradford C (1) 1 Syers 8
Hereford (0) 0
Att: 10,460
Next fixture
(A) Crewe, Saturday Dec 18, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM.
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
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Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Slideshow-Bradford-City-v-Hereford.6659050.jp?
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2242542,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
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Match stats
Stats: Bradford C - Hereford
Possession: 47 - 53%
Shots on target: 9 - 4
Shots off target: 4 - 6
Fouls: 7 - 10
Corners: 3 - 9
Ref: Peter Quinn (Cleveland).
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: None
Hereford: Kovacs (21 min.), Lund (66).
Bradford C: 40. Lenny Pidgeley, 26. Rob Kiernan (87), 6. Luke Oliver, 29.
Richard Eckersley, 3. Luke O'Brien, 23. Dave Syers, 20. Tom Adeyemi, 8.
Tommy Doherty, 11. Lee Hendrie (78), 7. Omar Daley (78), 17. James Hanson.
SUBS: 1. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 9. Gareth Evans, 14. Leon Osborne (78), 19.
Louis Moult, 22. Lee Bullock (87), 28. Robbie Threlfall, 30. Jason Price
(78).
Hereford: 1. Adam Bartlett, 15. Sam Gwynne, 4. Janos Kovacs, 5. Michael
Townsend, 34. Joe Heath, 17. Joe Colbeck (62), 16. Kenny Lunt, 33. Matthew
Lund (72), 18. Nicky Featherstone, 9. Mathieu Manset, 27. Guillem Bauza.
SUBS: 31. Rhett Heister (GK), 7. Stuart Fleetwood (72), 8. Daniel Stratford,
10. Sean Canham, 14. James McQuilkin (62), 21. Tyler Weir, 29. Byron
Webster.
Position: 14th.
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Saturday evening match report
By Simon Parker (T&A)
David Syers smashed his sixth goal of the season as Bradford City made a
winning return to action - but it was an edgy victory.
Three points against the bottom side was a must in the first game for 18
days.
A seventh-minute thunderbolt from Syers ensured that was achieved. But it
was an anxious afternoon.
Hereford were always in the game, although Joe Colbeck's return to Valley
Parade was a flat one. The winger was subbed just after an hour.
Syers had got the ball rolling in spectacular style, taking Richard
Eckersley's pass and slamming a low shot home from 25 yards.
Luke O'Brien worried keeper Adam Bartlett with another long-range effort and
Omar Daley miscontrolled when put clear by the lively Tom Adeyemi.
The on-loan midfielder almost missed a great chance himself when through as
Bartlett twice denied him.
But Hereford had their own moments, with former Swansea striker Guillem
Bauza proving a headache for the home defence.
Bauza forced two saves from Lenny Pidgeley, one from Colbeck's cross, while
defender Janos Kovacs volleyed inches over.
Both sides hit the post early in the second half - Nicky Featherstone going
close for Hereford and then Daley hitting the inside of the post from
outside the box.
With Colbeck gone, his replacement James McQuilkin kept City on their toes
with a cross shot that fizzed wide.
The Bantams completely lost their way in the final 20 minutes and Mathieu
Manset threatened to pinch an equaliser. Bartlett even appeared in the City
box for a stoppage-time corner but the home side just about saw it through.
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Monday morning match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8733466./
Taylor praise as glowing as midfielder's boots as City grind out welcome win
6:10am Monday 13th December 2010
By Simon Parker
City 1, Hereford 0
One of the big reasons for City's below-middling season has been the missing Michael Flynn factor.
The Bantams have lacked his presence, his larger-than-life character and the goals he can chip in with from midfield.
Well, David Syers continues to do his best to fill that scoring void.
He might not operate at the same volume levels as the mouthy Welshman but the new kid on the block continues to hit the net at an invaluable rate.
It has been a superb breakthrough campaign and shows no sign of flagging. And how grateful Peter Taylor and City will be for that.
Syers popped up with goal number six of his debut term – and the first from outside the box.
From a City throw-in, Syers took a short pass from Richard Eckersley in his stride. The intent was written all over his face.
One touch to steady and then a fire of the right foot from 25 yards out, the ball flying past a startled Adam Bartlett via the post. Not a bad way to wear in his natty new boots!
His nine-and-a-half feet could no longer fit in his original size tens which had stretched through wear. Keen to stick with the Predator brand, Syers had scoured the catalogue for replacements – and could only come up with luminous yellow and red.
With glowing boots like that, you've got to be pretty confident of making a quick impression. Syers had no problems on that front.
Taylor may be a bit old school for multi-coloured footwear but he can certainly appreciate the growing talent of the rookie proving to be his best Valley Parade signing.
"When we knew he was going to come on trial with us, a lot of people said he gets all different types of goals and that's exactly what he's been doing," said Taylor.
"He gets them with his energy, gets them in the air, gets them everywhere. I'm really pleased with him.
"I don't know (why other teams didn't spot him). Sometimes in non-league, people aren't sure about players making that jump. But in our case, it was well worth giving David that opportunity."
Taylor has the future of seven players to chew over in the first week of January but the priority should be to lock down Syers well before his one-year first contract runs out.
You can imagine other eyes will be taking a keen interest of his progress now.
So the day ultimately belonged to a blond-haired Yorkshireman in midfield. The same could not be said of the other one returning to City for the first time in Hereford colours.
Joe Colbeck, who had talked pre-game about playing for his boyhood club again one day, tried and tried on his comeback but very little came off.
One cross set up Guillem Bauza's header and another shot sailed over after Colbeck had switched wings to the left following an unsuccessful tussle with big buddy Luke O'Brien.
As half-time approached, he flew into a challenge or two. You sensed the personal frustration was rising.
But he still got no change from his former club and was subbed around the hour mark to an ironic chorus from the Kop.
Colbeck walked away from a lively game. City, buoyed by that seventh-minute cracker from Syers, should have put the result beyond doubt but both Tom Adeyemi, a purposeful figure in the first half, and Omar Daley wasted one-on-ones.
Daley later hit the post, two minutes after Nicky Featherstone had done the same for Hereford.
The Bulls had ruffled feathers in the first half, winning seven corners and forcing a couple of alert moments from Lenny Pidgeley.
But it was after the break – and Colbeck's departure – that they really began to rattle the home side. As French targetman Mathieu Manset threw his weight around, an air of uncertainty enveloped the amber shirts.
The last 20 minutes was spent almost exclusively heading towards the Bradford End which City were defending frantically at times.
Lee Hendrie did not take too kindly to being sacrificed, though his petulant reaction was hardly of the Balotelli variety.
Taylor had no problem with the skipper's frustration," saying: "I wanted some fresh legs on there to help us out defensively.
"Lee had worked really hard in a couple of positions and I just felt as though Hereford were having more of the ball than us. Lee's a top professional so I understand how he feels."
The City chief was not so happy with the all-round performance in the second period. What should have been a routine victory, given such an early goal, became a hard, twitchy struggle. The final whistle was greeted with general relief.
Three points were in the can to kick off a potential season-defining three weeks. Put it down to a bit of rustiness from inactivity maybe but City will have to improve against the likes of in-form Crewe, Chesterfield and Bury.
Taylor admitted: "Hereford were miles better than us second half. It was a frustrating half.
"The football Hereford played shows what a good league we're in if they're bottom of the table. It just showed why every match is a tough one.
"That's where you have to get that second goal. While it's 1-0, it's still a very close situation.
"All the boys know they can do a lot better. It's just little disciplines that I know we can improve on."
Attendance: 10,460
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SYERS EARNS TAYLOR PLAUDITS
Dave Syers earned the praise of Peter Taylor after his goal gave Bradford
City a first win in five matches against Hereford.
The only goal of the game was a spectacular effort from leading scorer
Syers, whose 25-yard shot flashed into the net off the inside of the upright
after seven minutes.
Bantams boss Taylor had a special word of praise for the former Farsley
Celtic and Harrogate Town midfielder, who joined the club following a trial
in the summer.
"When you are in non-league there is always that jump to league football,
but David was well worth the opportunity," said Taylor. "He scores goals
with his energy, he gets them in the air and also with his long-range
shots."
On the performance, Taylor added: "I am delighted with the three points but
not with the display. It was a frustrating second half and I felt we had two
very good opportunities to score a second goal, but Tom Adeyemi and Omar
Daley missed our best chances.
"If we had scored a second goal we could have pushed on, but when it is only
1-0 it is a very close situation and that is why you have to have a second
goal. Hereford were miles better than us in the second half."
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TAYLOR: NO MUST-PLAY LOAN CLAUSES
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Peter Taylor today revealed that City are not forced to play any of their
loan signings.
The Bantams boss has frequently dipped into the temporary market this season
to cover injuries.
Taylor has already borrowed seven different players from other teams in the
first 18 league games. There are currently five still on the Valley Parade
staff until the first week of the new year.
The club's heavy reliance on loan signings has been criticised in some
quarters - and Zesh Rehman went public with his frustration at being
sidelined for younger short-term replacements.
Taylor admits his hand has been forced because of the ongoing casualty list,
especially in the back four. But he dismissed any suggestion that City are
under orders from the parent clubs to play their loanees every week.
He said: "I can promise you that's not the case. But what I will always do
is play them for the first couple of games and then take a look at it from
there.
"If you've got loan players in, then you couldn't not use them. There's got
to be an outstanding reason for you not to play them.
"The clubs we have dealt with, Watford, Norwich and Stoke, accept that. If
you don't treat them right, you could then lose the relationship in future.
"If a player is much better than the one you've got in on loan, then fair
enough. But if it's a close call it's only fair, having brought someone in,
to give them that chance.
"But it doesn't mean the loans have to play all the time. Any manager out
there will tell you that.
"They all say 'do what you want to do'. The players are ours for that time
and we can do what we feel is best for this team.
"It was the same with the Man United boys (Oliver Gill and Reece Brown).
Basically it was a case of playing them at first and then making the
decision whether to keep them in."
Rehman complained that his starting opportunities had gone to four
youngsters with little senior experience between them. But Taylor stressed
that he had to swell the numbers because of the absence of so many
defenders.
He said: "This is why the Zesh thing was so frustrating for me. I tried to
explain to people.
"We got the injury to Lewis Hunt at Northampton which meant that I had no
right back in the building. Zesh, of course, would play there.
"Then Steve Williams got injured at Colchester and I only had one centre
half fit. That's why I had to get a couple of people straight in on loan."
Williams is in contention for the Hereford game on Saturday after returning
to training following his groin injury.
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Article on WSC re: our christmas season ticket offer.
http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/6015/38/
7 December ~ It is not just a discouraging seven-point gap from the play-offs that has League Two's pre-season
promotion favourites, Bradford City, already contemplating next season. For the fourth December in a row, the club
has put next year's season tickets on sale as a tantalising self-gift for any Bantams fan. And for as little as
£110 an adult or £55 a child, you can sign up early for another ten months of dashed expectations. Since 2007,
Bradford have gone against the trend of inflation-busting ticket prices by offering season tickets cheaper than
even many of the region's non-League clubs.
In the 2007-08 season, you could have watched City fail to immediately bounce back from relegation for only £138.
It rose slightly to £150 for 2008-09, then £176 last season. This year, City fans are watching their side struggle
to make it fourth time lucky in getting promoted for just £184.
For those fans who can afford an extra indulgence on top of the cost of Christmas – or for whom Santa is feeling
extra generous – each December Bradford put next year's season tickets on sale early at further discounted prices
(hence the £110 offer for next season). The minimum number of sales needed to make the initiative viable each year
is 10,000 – so the more people who buy in the December window (bringing City closer to that 10,000), the cheaper
the offer can be when season tickets go back on sale in March.
At a time when even lower-league football is becoming an expensive luxury for many, such efforts in making
professional football affordable deserve to be loudly applauded. But Bradford's continuing failings on the field
make this far from the happy story it should be – and cast doubts over how long this economical season ticket
philosophy can be upheld for.
The first cheap season ticket season, 2007-08, saw crowds rise from the average 8,739 who watched the Bantams
relegated from League One to 13,756; but the subsequent mid-table finish saw the number of renewals decrease. With
each year of dashed promotion hopes and League Two mediocrity, the sales have gradually reduced. The average
attendance in 2008-09 was 12,704 and it was 11,422 last season. This year crowds are averaging 10,777 – worryingly
close to that 10,000 mark. Even with such discounted season tickets, loyalty cannot be bought.
But while a hard core of fans remains to endure familiar frustrations of failed promotion efforts, a difficult
dilemma builds for the club. The gradual rises in the cheap season tickets since 2007 have been painless for fans,
who continue to pay less to watch their team than any of the other 91 League clubs. Yet if the numbers continue to
dwindle and those prices have to be pushed steeper, the mantra of "City till Die" may be sorely tested among those
supporters. Patience is already slim following a decade of unprecedented failure.
All of which leaves Bradford desperate for a bit of magic. If success could belatedly occur on the field, the
decline in season ticket uptake could be dramatically increased as the UK's sixth-largest City has a more
successful football club to support. Bradford's season is far from over, and it is very possible that, come next
August, fans could be watching the Bantams play League One football having only paid £110.
Promotion could cause a snowball effect in the popularity of Bradford's season ticket ethos. A few more years of
failure could leave the club relying on its hardcore support once more joining the rest of English football fans in
grumbling about expensive ticket prices. Jason McKeown
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